5 ways to fix your finances at 30

As if turning 30 wasn’t jarring enough, the web is littered with advice and figures of what you should be earning, saving, and buying by the time you hit the big 3-0. From telling you that you should have already paid off your student loan, to the fact that you should also have saved an amount equal to that of your annual salary, it can be crushing if you feel you are not, as yet, on 'track'.

If you don't feel financially in control don't panic. Trust us, you are not alone. Follow these 5 simple steps to help turn your finances around and begin making progress towards financial control.

There’s no time like the present to make good choices.

1. Start budgeting

Maybe you have a good salary so you’ve never needed to bother with a budget because you’ve always had enough cash to see you to the end of the month. Conversely, maybe you feel like you’re on the bread line permanently and so you’ve never bothered to make a budget because there’s never been enough cash to spread around.

Whatever the reason, your budgeting career needs to start now.

Budgeting is key to control. Managing exactly how much you have coming in, going out, and where it is all spent lets you understand your own spending habits much more thoroughly. Giving yourself a holistic view of your behaviour lets you take steps towards stopping damaging behaviour, like wasteful subscriptions and an expensive coffee habit, and developing a more mindful approach to your money.

If this is not you then don't worry, the best thing you can do is just start saving now. Most experts agree that you should put between 10 – 15% of your income each month toward your pension. If you can’t afford to do this then start small. Sit down and do the maths. Decide what percentage of your income you can do without, and begin by saving that, even if it is only 1% or 2%.

3. Start your emergency fund

Again, an emergency fund is important for helping you out with freak situations like a broken heater, a new car battery, or any other cost that you can’t budget for on a monthly basis. Ideally an emergency fund, also known as a financial safety net, should contain between £3,000 and £5,000. If you don’t have this saved then it’s not a problem. Even as little as £500 could make the difference between having to take out a short-term loan, or putting the expense on a credit card.

If you find saving difficult then downloading an app like Oval Money can help you by programming automated saving steps. You can start saving from as little as £1 a week, or begin rounding up the outstanding pennies from each transaction into a savings wallet. It is an easy and hassle free way to start your savings.

4. Start paying off your high interest debt

Before you start doing anything else, pay off your high interest debt. It will free up more of your income each month, which you can start to save or put toward your retirement contributions.

This means your credit cards that are no longer within the 0% APR period, or high-street store cards. Until you pay these off you are actually losing money every month, because you are paying huge rates of interest on your loan without actually paying off the loan itself. If you have a lot of debt, look into applying for a consolidation loan, or transferring your balance to a credit card with a 0% APR rate.

5. Start investing

Although a scary prospect for many, it’s crucial to wrap your head around your investment options as soon as possible. Rather than just sitting in a bank account with a negligible interest rate, sensibly investing a portion of your income can bring you solid returns. It's a good way of learning to make your money work for you.

Do your research and find the brokerage that is the best fit for you. Bear in mind they all have varying account minimums and trading fees, but don't get overwhelmed. Soon, you can start investing with Oval Money with as little as a few hundred pounds.